When I started writing professionally, I was terrible at story openings. So much seemed to rest on how well you started a book that I overthought it. After numerous revisions, I’d end up with what would equate to something wrapped in silver duct tape and bright Christmas lights. It looked shiny and flashy, but anyone who looked closely wouldn’t call it attractive. The funny part was that all my other chapter openings were praised as polished and intriguing. So, I seemed capable of writing good hooks, but I was too in my head to let it flow out of me for the book’s beginning.
Today, I want to simplify how to write an opening scene. I wrote a post on starting a book In Medias Res and another post on writing the first page, and I still stand behind those posts as good advice. But, if you are like me and know what needs to be present but can’t seem to make it come out, then this is for you. We’re going to simplify a story’s opening into 4 O’s, and hopefully they’ll help you make the readers say “Oh!” and read your book.
Story Openings
My In Medias Res post covered when to start a story, but let’s do a little review. Your story should start when something first changes your protagonist’s world and has major consequences. Let’s break that down a little bit.
The story starts with a change. This is usually the inciting incident, a change that disrupts your protagonist’s life and sets the story in motion. You can start just before the change, during the change, or right after it. The timing all depends on your story, but it should be as close to the change as possible.
Next, that change needs to have consequences. It has to be significant. If the protagonist has a car crash but resumes life as normal the next day, that isn’t a significant change. Whatever changes needs to have a deep impact that makes it impossible for the protagonist to return to normal life.
Now that we know when to start the story, let’s look at the 4 O’s that make a compelling opening.
1. Objective
The first O is objective. What does the character want and why? This is usually the goal for their internal arc. Showing the character’s goal upfront gives the story a sense of directionality. The readers know there is an objective and can cheer for the protagonist as he chases it.
You also need to show the stakes attached to the goal. Why does he want it? What potential consequences is he chasing after or running from? This information will give readers a reason to care, a reason to keep reading. Once you assign stakes to a goal, the story suddenly has meaning.
2. Opposition
The second O is opposition. What danger or antagonistic force is working against the protagonist? What obstacles stand in his way of getting his goal? This shows a sense of conflict and adds tension. It will give a sense of urgency to the story that will make readers flip pages to learn what happens next.
3. Option
The third O is option. At the story’s start, you need to make the protagonist face an option. He must make a decision that will kick-start the story. Characters who sit by passively or run away from their troubles the whole book are boring. Make your character face a choice, then let him make a decision and take action. Once he does this, the beginning of your novel is over. You’ve started the story, and from now on it’s just following the scene cycle and unfurling the plot elements.
4. Outcome
Once you’ve finished your opening, look back and make sure there is an inevitable outcome. There must be consequences coming for what happened. Remember, a change without consequence is not a place to start a story. The outcome doesn’t have to be evident in the opening scene (though it can be), but it should be obvious in the next scene that the protagonist’s life has been altered forever. It’s this irrevocable change and the promise that the protagonist will face its fallout that makes people buy a book.
Final Thoughts
You’ve probably noticed that this is not a step-by-step guide to writing the perfect scene. It’s because there is no perfect scene. The start of your book is just like any other scene you’ve written. You can start with anything. Do a car chase, show a breakup, have a criminal eating breakfast in prison—it doesn’t matter! If it sets up your story and pushes the plot forward, then it’s the perfect opening scene. The only thing you need to worry about it starting in the right place, when the first significant change takes place in your protagonist’s story. Beyond that, just follow the scene cycle and include these 4 O’s as soon as possible. Objective and opposition should be apparent in the first couple of pages, and then you work the protagonist toward an option that has a significant outcome. If done well, you’ll have your readers hooked.
Thanks for reading!
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